Disclaimer: All ideas are based on characters and events belonging to J.K. Rowling.

Calm Before the Storm

Chapter 14: A Party in the Making

When Olivia and Kiley reached Olivia's room, she was still thinking about what Sirius had said to her. That was the first time he had ever called her sexy before. What she couldn't figure out though was if he was being serious or just trying to cheer her up. She decided the later was more than likely the case and was about to brush it off as she and Kiley got comfortable on the bed.

Kiley gave Olivia a look of interest. "So, Livey, what was that about?"

Olivia snapped out of her thoughts. "What was what about?"

Kiley smirked. "You and Sirius. What else would I be talking about?"

Olivia averted her eyes. "It's a long story."

"Anything to do with your new hair cut?"

"In a way, yes."

They sat there for a minute in silence, Olivia trying to figure out how to explain to Kiley everything that had happened since they had left Hogwarts. She didn't really want to reopen the still very fresh wounds from her evening with Lucius but, at the same time, wanted her best friend to know everything.

Kiley sat watching Olivia, trying to figure out what was going through her head. After several minutes of silence she couldn't take it anymore. "Come on, Livey! I need to know!"

Finally Olivia took a deep breath and started explaining everything up to the point of when she got back home the night before. By the time she had finished, both girls were in tears. Kiley hugged her. "Oh, Livey. How awful. You and Lucius were doing so good too. Who would've known he was such a git."

Olivia gave a bitter laugh. "Kiles, you know the guys told me multiple times to watch out and stay away from him and I was just too bloody hard headed to listen to them."

Kiley looked at her best friend sympathetically. "Well, I wasn't going to point it out. But you still haven't explained what that was about in the hall."

"Sirius has just been trying to cheer me up. He found me in hysterics after I got home last night and I guess he just feels sorry for me." Kiley looked a little skeptical but let it go for the time being. "So how are things going between you and Mr. Lupin?"

Kiley couldn't help but let a large smile slip onto her face. "Really good actually. We've been writing back and forth all summer. I'm excited to get to see him again."

Olivia smiled. She was happy for two of her best friends. "That's so sweet, Kiles. Do you think it's going to turn into something serious?"

Kiley blushed. "Well, I can't say for sure, but I really do like him, Liv. He's so sweet and kind and smart. I could go on and on about him for days."

Olivia's smile faltered a bit. She wanted that with somebody. She had thought that her and Lucius were the real thing only to be sorely disappointed and now she was left feeling empty, not really knowing where to go from here and just wanting a true relationship with somebody that loved and accepted her. That could wait though. She could wait as long as she had to until she found her perfect man. Her Mr. Right. Now, though, she was just going to focus on being happy for Kiley and Remus.

"So Sirius is living here now? I mean, for good?"

Olivia jerked her head up, surprised out of her thoughts and nodded. "Yep, it looks that way. Dad has convinced him to stay at least until after he graduates."

"Wow. Think you can handle James and Sirius permanently under the same roof?"

Both the girls laughed. "Ask me that again in a year or so." A knock at the door interrupted any further conversation. Olivia stood and crossed the room to answer. On the other side were James and Sirius grinning like two Cheshire cats. "What're you two doing here? I thought you were going to play quidditch. Finished already?"

"Well, dear sister, we were."

"But then we had a brilliant idea."

She looked at the two of them warily, wondering what they were up to. "...and?"

James threw his arm around her shoulders. "A party."

"Before school starts back." Sirius continued.

"And with all our friends." James concluded.

"You know its annoying when you two do that."

They both looked at her in confusion. "Do what?"

Olivia shook her head, a slight smile on her face. "Never mind." She thought a party sounded like an excellant idea. "Do you really think mum and daddy will agree to a party?"

"Oh ye of little faith, Olli. We've already got permission."

"Really?" She looked between the two, starting to get excited.

"Yep, and we thought you two could help us make the guest list."

The girls glanced at each other momentarily, sharing a knowing look. Kiley would get to see Remus and Olivia would have the chance to have a little fun and hopefully forget about Lucius. Olivia waved the guys in before going to her desk and removing a piece of parchment, ink, and a quill.

The four of them sat in a circle on the deep purple rug in Olivia's floor discussing the party plans for hours. Besides Sirius and James' idea of fire whiskey, which was turned down considering Evelyn and Harold was going to be present, the planning went smoothly. Finally, they got to the guest list.

James took the parchment and added the 'Guest List' heading before they started discussing names. "Well, Moony and Wormtail for sure."

The other three nodded in agreement. Sirius averted his gaze to the window. "I should probably invite Scarlett. She's already irritated with me for not writing her more than I have."

Olivia frowned. She had forgotten about Sirius and Scarlett...not that it really mattered, she just hadn't thought they would have lasted this long.

James, though, perked up. "If she comes, Lily might come!" They all shared a knowing look as James started scribbling names. "That means we need to invite all the sixth year Gryffindor girls."

When they were nearing the end of their list, which by now contained over thirty names, James looked warily to Olivia. "I guess you want to invite Lucius, huh?"

Olivia looked down. "We broke up, James." The circle of friends went eerily quite, nobody moving. "You don't have to act sad for me, I know you wanted it to happen."

James leaned to the side and hugged his little sister. "I just didn't want you to get hurt, Livey." He was silent for a moment, studying Olivia's expression. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Olivia shook her head. "He just wasn't who I thought he was, ok. You were right and I should have listened but I didn't and I paid for it. It's over now though and don't matter so come on, let's get back to our awesome party."

The other three stared at her in slight shock at her mini rant, nobody really sure what to say. Sirius and Kiley knew it wasn't as simply as she made it out to be but they also knew that she didn't want to tell James the whole story, at least not yet, so they stayed quiet.

The silence was broken as Niko ran into the room and jumped on Sirius' lap before sinking his claws in and climbing onto his shoulders, curling around his neck. Sirius recoiled and the room broke out in laughter. "Why, oh why does this damn cat like me so?"

Olivia came to his rescue and gently dislodged Niko's claws from Sirius shoulder and pulled him into her lap. "He's a sweet cat, Sirius. He can't help he's a bad judge of character."

Sirius started to laugh before he realized she had insulted him. "Hey!" He looked across the circle to see her smiling at him and knew she was joking. He winked before turning his attention to James. "All that's left to do now is get these invitations wrote up and sent out. Your parents said they would help us get the decorations and food together."

James nodded, oblivious to the exchange between his best friend and sister. "Do you think Lily will come?"

Sirius sighed. No, he didn't really think Lily would come but he had learned a long time ago that James didn't always take reality well, at least not when it came to Lily. "Sure, Prongs. If Scarlett comes, I'm sure Lily will come along with her."

"What do you see in her anyway, Jamie?"

James looked at Olivia wide eyed. "She's so, so, so...perfect, Livey. She's so pretty, and smart, and..."

"Ok, James. Yea, I get the picture."

Sirius glanced at Olivia. "You had to ask, huh?" She gave an apologetic smile because James was still rattling off things that he thought was perfect about Lily Evans. Sirius took the time that James was ranting to just stare at Olivia. He felt so guilty. He was with Scarlett, he was going to see her very soon now, but he couldn't get his mind off of Olivia. He also felt guilty because she was James' sister and knew that James would probably never forgive him if he knew the thoughts that had been going through his head about his little sister.

His thoughts were distracted by the very person that was causing him so many problems, unknowingly of course. Olivia had moved across the circle to sit next to him and nudged his arm. "If we have to listen to this, so do you. No zoning out."

He smirked. "How did you know I wasn't paying attention?"

"Well, the vacant stare was clue number one."

They laughed, catching James attention. He pouted, realizing that they hadn't been paying attention to him after all. He sighed, "Come on, lets get these invitations fixed so we can start planning decorations."

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Author's Note: Hope you guys like it. Please review and let me know what you think! - PJ

DanniGirrl0001 - Thanks so much for the compliments, I'm glad you like it. And you'll just have to wait and see. ; )

talyag - Yea, being snowed in is sooo much fun. lol I'm just glad to have power back. Glad you like it though, and keep reviewing. : )

love-cdc and ForeverTeamEdward13 - Thanks! So glad you like it and keep reviewing! : )